massive security, barriers going into place, bleachers along pennsylvania avenue for monday's inaugural parade. and the presidential viewing stand bulletproof rebuilt every four years. but since a huge crowd full of hope saw the first obama swearing in, america has lowered its expectation. only 35% in the nbc news/"wall street journal" poll says the country is heading in the right direction. and president obama's new portrait, his approval stands at 62%. his likability at 61%. but only 29% say he's working effectively with congress. and today there's more 0 conflict. responding to the president's declaration that he won't negotiate over the debt ceiling, republicans backed down. they raised the borrowing limit but just for three months. and if democrats don't agree to a budget to spending cuts by april, they cut off lawmakers' paychecks. >> why should the american public pay elected officials if they don't do the fundamental job to pass the budget. >> reporter: since richard nixon resigned, second terms have had negative starts. >> it's been a long time since we've seen an effective sec